Sunshine + Plastic Bottle = Clean Water
July 10, 2008
10 July 2008
Posted to the web 10 July 2008
Cotonou
The government of Benin aims to dramatically increase the percentage of Beninese who can access drinking water by 2015 and one organisation, the Regional Centre for Water and Sanitation (CREPA) hopes to close the gap with a simple solution requiring little more than sunshine and a plastic bottle.
Developed by the Swiss Institute for Environmental Science and Technology (EAWEG), the method, called solar water disinfection, or SODIS, uses the sun’s UV-A rays and heat to decontaminate water. So far, up to two million people in 20 countries have used it, though Benin is one of the few West African countries to trial the method.
With abundant sunshine CREPA officials say the SODIS method could significantly improve the region’s drinking water problems.
"From what we know about the benefits it brings to many people now, we believe SODIS will help inform the water strategies of the national authorities in many African countries as part of a framework to fight poverty," said Yadjide Gbedo Adissoda, technical adviser and engineer at CREPA.
Just 41 percent of rural Beninese currently have access to clean water but the government hopes to bring this up to 67 percent by 2015 as part of the Millennium Development Goals.
Diarrhoea causes up to 17 percent of infant deaths in the country, according to non-governmental organisation Countdown to 2015, and worldwide it kills 2.5 million people each year.
How SODIS works
Most Beninese who are not on the water grid make do by purifying their water themselves - by boiling it, chlorinating it, or by filtering out the sediment.
The SODIS method is more straightforward. Users take a clear plastic bottle with a maximum size of three litres, fill it with water and put it on the roof or a corrugated iron sheet to soak up the sun’s rays. Between six hours and two days later, depending on the strength of the sun, the water should be purified.
According to officials at EAWEG, the sun’s UV-A rays kill the pathogenic organisms in the water while its heat has a pasteurising effect. The combined effect can kill up to 99.9 percent of the micro-organisms that cause cholera and diarrhoea.
"A significant number of coliform bacteria disappeared after the SODIS method was applied in laboratory tests," said CREPA’s Adissoda. According to SODIS’s impact studies, diarrhoeal infection rates drop by between 20 and 70 percent when the method is applied.
The method is cheap - bottles cost about six US cents each and can be reused if well kept, and it is safe - so far studies have not shown any risks of the plastic diluting into the water, according to Adissoda.
And the taste is chemical-free. "This water tastes really good," said Gnona Marthe, a resident of Sèkandji village on the outskirts of Cotonou, where villagers are trialling the SODIS method.
Jean Yadouléton, director of CREPA, confirmed this, telling IRIN, "When they compared the water treated by SODIS with what they were accustomed to consuming, they noted a considerable difference in taste."
Water board slow to adopt
Despite its benefits, SODIS officials at the Benin Water Board (SONEB) say they have not yet agreed to promote SODIS as an official strategy and will not openly state whether or not this will change.
"SODIS is advised only in cases where there is no drinking water. Where there is a good supply of drinking water, there is no problem," said one source close to the Beninese Ministry of Water who requested anonymity.
SODIS will not work without the right conditions in place. "Carefully washed bottles and clean hands are vital requirements," said Adissoda. This involves high hygiene awareness levels, and public information campaigns can cost up to US$2 per person, she added.
The water itself cannot be too dirty in the first place - if it is too cloudy it might resist the sun’s rays. Finally, though cheap, plastic bottles are not always plentiful in rural areas. However, the most vital ingredient - sunshine - is abundant in countries such as Benin.
Meanwhile, officials at SODIS are trying to raise awareness of the method across the region, hoping that attitudes to it will change. This may be starting to take effect at Benin’s water board. Having been coy at first, another high-level official at SONEB told IRIN on condition of anonymity: "We believe that as we move towards covering the entire national territory with drinking water we should welcome the interest that SODIS can generate among the population of Benin."
[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations ]
President Sirleaf Leaves for Cotonou, Benin
June 30, 2008
17 June 2008
Posted to the web 17 June 2008
Monrovia
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf leaves the country this morning for a one day official visit to the Republic of Benin.
The Liberian leader will participate in the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CENSAD) meeting scheduled to be held in Cotonou. During her visit, President Johnson-Sirleaf will also hold bilateral talks with Beninois President His Excellency Yayi Boni.
While the President is away, Finance Minister Dr. Antoinette Sayeh will serve as Chairman of the Cabinet in consultation with Vice President Joseph Boakai.
MY DEAR SISTER I HAVE GREAT RESPECT AND ADMIRE FOR YOU BUT WHEN YOU FOLLOW GHADAFI HE MAKES ME MY HEART TO BLEED BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT HE DID IN OUR COUNTRY AND NOW HE IS DOING IT TO MALI NIGER CHAD AND SMALL SMAL AFRICAN COUNTRIES.
GHADAFI HE DONT LIKE AFRICANS BECAUSE IF HE LIKES . YOU KNOW HOW MONEY AFRICAN PRISIONERS THEY ARE IN LIBYA FOR NOT DOING ANYTHING BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRICAN. PLS MY AFRICAN LEADERS PLS I AM BEGGING YOU IN THE NAME OF ALLAH GHADAFI HE CAN NOT PLAY WITH YOUR INTELEDGENT..
1. GHADAFI… []
Madame President, you were hired to serve the Liberin people not your self and you followers.
I seems to me that ever since this lady took the president, she takes advantage of any chance she gets to get out of the country. I don’t know who’s keeping tabs, but this lady has spent a significant amount of her time as president out of the country. And judging by her demeanor while on these trips, she seems to relish every moment. What ever happened to her sending her vice president or foreign minister on some of these trips?
Country, Benin Strengthen Defence Relations
June 30, 2008
24 June 2008
Posted to the web 24 June 2008
Edwin Tshivhidzo
Pretoria
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has forged a partnership with its Benin equivalent to increase military cooperation.
Defence Minister Mosioua Lekota and his Benin counterpart Issifo Kogui Ndouro on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) seeking to develop and formulate procedures for military cooperation between the two armed forces.
"The agreement includes promoting the training of military personnel through the exchange of trainees, instructors and observers," Minister Lekota said.
South African Air Force personnel will provide training to the Benin Air Force personnel with a view to improving their skills.
"We are also going to cooperate on the acquisition of military equipment, technical cooperation as well as in the area of military medical services."
The agreement will also pave the way for an exchange of knowledge and training in the carrying out of United Nations and African Union peacekeeping operations where needed, particularly on the African continent.
"We are aware of your vast experience in peacekeeping missions, which therefore creates a solid platform to draw lessons from one another," the minister said.
In response, Benin Defence Minister Ndouro said he was excited to forge a partnership with a country like South Africa.
"South Africa has a great role to play not only in our country but the continent as a whole. The signing of the agreement is in line with the building of meaningful solutions," he added.
He assured Minister Lekota that the government of Benin will do everything possible to sustain the relations between the two countries.
To date, the SANDF had signed a number of agreements with a number of African countries in the line of defence.
Glo Benin Signs Up Over 600,000 Subscribers in 2 Weeks
June 30, 2008
24 June 2008
Posted to the web 24 June 2008
Efem Ekanga
Lagos
Glo Mobile has recorded an instant hit among the people of Benin Republic who have been trooping to dealers’ shops and Glo’s retail outlets to subscribe to the network’s services.
In the first two weeks of commencing operations, the network has sold about 600,000 SIMs, while over 200,000 lines have already been activated on the network.
The growth of Glo Benin, which many described as unprecedented, gives an indication that Glo is positioned to contribute to the vision of the company to build the biggest and best network in Africa.
Glo entered the Beninoise market on June 5, with a promise by the Chairman of the company, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr., to change the telecommunications landscape in the country.
As the brand was officially presented to the people in an evening event described by well-travelled Beninoise, including the son of the former President of the Republic and now Minister of Sports and Youths development in the Boni Yayi Government, Galiou Soglo, as world class.
The Gloworld Shops and designated dealer outlets were practically taken over by expectant Beninoise who wanted to share in the unique experience of being among the first set of people to make the first calls on the Glo network.
Earlier in a pre-launch presentation to newsmen, the Glo management said it was introducing unencumbered per second billing which gives the subscriber the power to pay only for the time that was used on phone.
This generally contrasts with the bundled seconds which operates in the market at the moment.
For example, a subscriber who speaks for 21 seconds automatically pays for 40 seconds since he is bundled to each 20 seconds, thus forcing him to pay for un-utilised airtime whenever a call is rounded off to the nearest bundled second.
With the Glo Per Second Billing platform, the caller only pays for the actual airtime consumed and nothing more.
These innovations appeared to have excited Beninoise subscribers who responded with such heavy patronage.
The company also announced the commencement of its value added services such as Multi-Media Messaging Service (MMS), Glo Magic Plus, Vehicle Tracking, Caller Tunes and Mobile Banking.
The MMS enables the user to send a combination of data, voice and pictures to loved ones, while Magic Plus enables the user to keep abreast of latest developments in information, entertainment and business.
It is the users’ guide while on the move.
Caller tunes provide melodious tunes to the hearing of the caller rather than the old-fashioned gring-gring ring back which has become monotonous.
Glo Mobile Benin assured its subscribers that life would be made easier and more enjoyable with the Glo Mobile phone.
Glo Mobile Benin has substantially covered the country, a position which puts it ahead.
THISDAY Checks revealed that while it took other networks six to seven years to achieve national coverage, Glo Mobile Benin marked its launch in Benin on Thursday June 5, 2008 with nationwide coverage.
The network is also reported to have more base stations in Benin Republic than any other network.